Batter Interference

[jacketsfan]

Is it interference if the catcher is attempting to make a pick-off throw to thrid, and the batter moves into the way of the throw, even if unintentionally? For instance, when the batters see the pitch as a ball, begins to step back, as if to look for a sign on the next pitch, then gets hit in the back with the throw to 3rd?

 

[druer]

To the best of my knowledge ... The batter has every right to be in the batters box regardless what the catcher needs to do. So if the catcher hits the batter while in the batter's box that's a non call. Not sure what could come into play if the batter moves, but stays in the box.

However, that does leave room for batter interferance with slappers. As they naturally progress out of the box, it sucks to be them if someone steals second and the catchers nails them in the back, as they have NO RIGHT to block a throw while out of the box. Easy out, and sore back.

 

[cshilt]

You really didn't mention if the batter was still in the batter's box. The batter cannot hinder the pickoff throw by stepping out of the box. Also, the batter cannot intentionally hinder the catcher (or throw) inside or outside of the batter's box. The key word, however, is intentionally, which leaves it up to the judgment of the umpire.

 

[Comp]

The batter has the right to their position in the batters box, that doesnt mean they can dance around in the entire box. The batter can maintain their position and make the catcher go around them as long as it is not a play at home plate. But, if the batter moves in the box in such a way that it interferes with the catchers ability to throw the ball it can be interference.

 

[jacketsfan]

It's a close judgement call, I think. Batters were pivoting around to look back at the 3rd base coach, which was hindering the catcher's ability to throw to 3. It's hard to tell a catcher to throw through the batter in that instance, because you don't want to plug anyone on purpose. On the other hand, they were moving back in the box after the pitch into the path of the throw, allowing the runner to take a much larger lead. The batters were in the box, but were moving around in it. I'm not sure it was always intentional, but I think sometimes it was. There were a couple of times when our catchers were contorting themselves into pretzels trying to throw around the batters.

I guess you just have to make your throw, and if the batter gets hit, then it's up to the umpire to decide if they were in the way on purpose.

 

[BretMan]

When making this call, forget about the batter's "intent" or if she got in the way "on purpose". Those are not requirements of the rule!

Following a pitch, the rules recognize that the batter is going to be exactly where she is required to be- in a normal batting position inside the batter's box. As long as the batter holds that position and does nothing else, she will be exempt from an interference call when the catcher is making a play to a base (first, second or third).

The batter's box offers some protection in that respect. But if the batter moves around inside the box, and that movement impedes the catcher or her throw, it is still interference- even though she's still in the box and even if she "didn't mean to do it". On these plays, the batter's best option is to freeze in one spot- the spot she had assumed while receiving the pitch. Make like a statue and don't move a muscle! Then, if the throw hits her, there's no penalty. It's a live ball, play on.

On this same play, if the batter has moved out of the box and interfers with the catcher or her throw, then interference is an automatic call.

Also, keep in mind that there must be an actual play attempted to retire a runner before interference can be called. Just because the batter is stepping out of the box, or moving around within the box, it's not automatically interference. If the catcher isn't making a throw, then nothing has been interfered with. In short, it's not interference until the point where the batter actually does interfere with a play attempt.

Another common misconception is that the batter's box is a "safe haven" in all cases. Not so at all when there is a runner advancing to home plate! When there is a play at the plate, the batter must vacate ANY space needed by the defense to complete the play. On these plays, the batter's box essentially does not exist. A batter might stay in the box and manage to not interfere, depending on where the play is coming from, or she might move way out of the box and still happen to accidently interfere. In or out of the box is meaningless on plays at the plate where, again, the batter either interferes or she does not and her "intent" isn't a factor.